Tom Brady should have been asked a more specific question

Posted by Mike Florio on October 12, 2016, 5:19 PM EDT

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For the most part, PFT has steered clear of the various quotes and #hottaeks that have emerged in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s attempt to dismiss as locker-room talk his braggadocio regarding an attempt to seduce a married woman, a habit of spontaneously kissing women he finds pleasing to the eye, and a belief that women will let stars do whatever they want.

There are several reasons for that. First, we’re trying to be a refuge from a presidential campaign that has created a worrisome divide in our country, sharpening the I’m-right-and-your-a-idiot rules of engagement to the point where meaningful discourse is nearly impossible.

Second, some excuses are sufficiently implausible to require no analysis or debunking. Most if not all reasonable people realize that locker-room talk doesn’t typically consist of boasting about efforts to lure someone into committing adultery or giving a budding celebrity like Billy Bush pointers on how he can behave once he becomes a full-blown star.

Third, it’s typically a no-win proposition to delve into these matters, given the strong opinions people have regarding politics and sports.

Earlier today, we addressed the reaction of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to a pointed (and loaded) question about Trump’s “locker-room talk.” Asked how Brady would react if his kids heard what Trump said, Brady opted to smile, say “thank you,” and walk away.

Regardless of whether Brady’s failure to express any degree of disapproval or to explain why he didn’t respond reflects tacit approval of the remarks (and reasonable minds can differ on whether it does), the reporter who asked the question missed an opportunity to ask a much more relevant question.

“Donald is a good friend of mine,” Brady said in December on WEEI. “I have known him for a long time. I support all my friends. That is what I have to say. He’s a good friend of mine. He’s always been so supportive of me. For the last 15 years, since I judged a beauty pageant for him, which was one of the very first things that I did that I thought was really cool that came along with winning the Super Bowl. He’s always invited me to play golf and I’ve always enjoyed his company. I support all my friends in everything they do. I think it’s pretty remarkable what he’s achieved in his life. You’re going from business, kind of an incredible businessman and then a TV star, and then getting into politics. It’s three different career paths. I think that is pretty remarkable.”

So instead of jumping right to a question that oozes with righteous indignation, this would have been better: “Tom, you judged a beauty pageant for Donald Trump and you have golfed with him. Has he ever said anything to you like the things he said to Billy Bush?”

For all the NFL players and other athletes who have chimed in this week regarding what is and isn’t “locker-room talk,” Brady is one of the few pro athletes who could comment on actual things he has heard Trump say in similar private settings.

And if Brady had walked away in response to that question, his silence may have said plenty.

The G.O.A.T. won’t be baited no matter what the question or viewpoint is…he’s too busy preparing for Cincy. He doesn’t care about stats, or personal awards either. Team wins, making the playoffs, and ultimately make it to the SB are his goals.

So people don’t want political activism when they disagree with the subject such as what Kap is doing, but as we saw in the comments on the earlier article today, those same people are perfectly happy with political activism when they can use it to bash Brady when he has done absolutely nothing wrong.

What possible benefit is there for Brady to respond to a question which will then dominate the news cycle for a week, drag his teammates into the fray and is guaranteed to anger about 50% of the people who hear him.

I’m positive he’d have answered any question, pointed or otherwise, exactly as he did – which is to totally ignore it and focus on the next game.

He didn’t answers and it was misconstrued as “tacitly implied that it wasn’t a big deal to him.” Can you imagine what they would’ve said if he actually answered the question?

He was put in a no win sitution. If he dismissed it as “locker room talk” he’s a misogynist. If he doesn’t, it would have been a bigger issue than when he was badgered by reporters in every interview because he had a stupid hat in his locker.

I don’t support Trump nor Hillary, but that question had no place in a football interview.

Well he learned it from one of the greatest coach in NFL history, BB. And it’s been said time and time again, stupid question gets stupid answer. Obviously a politics question is not something Brady wants to answer in a football interview. Not sure why PFT makes such a big deal out his non-comment.

I’ve been in almost every locker room in HS and 4 years of Varsity baseball in college.

Locker rooms are change, throw practice uni in chute, take a shower, get dressed and hightail it to the dining hall.

You don’t look down. You don’t ask for soap. Maybe shampoo. Total eye contact. We all know why. I’ve never heard one single conversation in my life about a girl in a locker room. Bad place to get aroused.

Baseball practice for a pitcher is beyond boring. You do talk about girls, bars, cars, and a whole lot of baseball too. This whole ‘locker room’ banter never existed in my generation. Trump never was in a locker room anyway.

He’s now making every student athlete look like him: We are not or I should say “I was not”.

Maybe there are some reasons why Tom doesn’t feel the need to answer these types of loaded questions:

A) None of you business
B) He doesn’t have to answer these non-football questions
C) No, nothing is implied
D) No, it does not mean tacit approval
E) Again none of your business, to which he doesn’t owe you, me, or the public an answer.

Just because he is a public figure doesn’t require him to offer an opinion or an answer when he doesn’t feel like it, and while I realize the press can make up reasons WHY he NEEDS to answer or SHOULD answer, the fact remains it is none of you business. Period.

Maybe there are some reasons why Tom doesn’t feel the need to answer these types of loaded questions:

A) None of you business
B) He doesn’t have to answer these non-football questions
C) No, nothing is implied
D) No, it does not mean tacit approval
E) Again none of your business, to which he doesn’t owe you, me, or the public an answer.

Just because he is a public figure doesn’t require him to offer an opinion or an answer when he doesn’t feel like it, and while I realize the press can make up reasons WHY he NEEDS to answer or SHOULD answer, the fact remains it is none of you business. Period.
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When he wears and hangs a Trump hat in his locker, he kind of opened the door to political questions. It’s not like people are asking Legarrette Blount these questions.

What world do we now live in? I have plenty of friends who have totally opposite political views from me. I have plenty of friends who use words or phrases that I would never use, woman are objectified by liberals and conservatives alike because they are men. Woman conservatives and liberals objectify men in today’s world (watch 5 minutes of MTV) Ronald Reagan and tip O’neal were great friends. What an awful world we would live in if we all had to speak and think the same. I have an idea let’s become North Korea, it seems this is the way the media wants us to go.

So let me get this straight. Kaepernick and a lot of other NFL players can kneel before the national anthem (which I could care less about either way) as a “political stand” and are nearly universally praised by this site and the media in general.

But if Brady doesn’t answer a abrasive question he’s “tacitly approving” what Trump said? How is that? Even if he was where is all this tolerance for Kap and the other players kneeling before the anthem now? I guess tolerance is a word that only applies to some and for one party.

Florio, this is a football site, stick to what you know. Do not jump into politics man, no one cares a sports anchors opinion. Especially when you are trying to take some type of moral high ground against Trump when you probably support a criminal in Hilary and her sexual assaulting husband.

“When he wears and hangs a Trump hat in his locker, he kind of opened the door to political questions….”
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No it doesn’t. If he was wearing a “John Deere” hat, would he be expected to have to answer questions about lawn mowers or snowblowers?

To say that reasonable minds can disagree on whether a no comment is tacit approval of trumps comments is asinine. How can you possibly infer anything from no comment. To assume Brady approves of those universally scorned comments would require you to believe he is a Neanderthal like trump. Show me one piece of evidence in his actions or comments over the past 15 years to support that.

If I had been screwed over by most of the media the way Brady was over the last 2 years I wouldn’t say one word to any of you. Fine me every week but I wouldn’t trust 95% of you and that PFT article earlier today is a perfect example of way most are untrustworthy.

Chris Kluwe, for all his faults, may have said it best. Talking about his eight years in the NFL:

“…we never had anyone say anything as foul and demeaning as you did on that tape, and, hell, I played a couple years with a guy who later turned out to be a serial rapist. Even he never talked like that.”

When he wears and hangs a Trump hat in his locker, he kind of opened the door to political questions. It’s not like people are asking Legarrette Blount these questions.

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Doesn’t change the fact that is isn’t anyone’s business what he thinks, nor is it “tacit approval” that Florio seems to passive aggressively suggest, nor is it wrong for Tom to walk away.

He didn’t open himself up for these types of questions, the press opened him up to these kinds of questions. Fact is players can answer or not answer whatever question they choose.

It is up to the player to choose what the share. If reporters don’t like it they can surely disagree, but they can’t just make up rules about how his non-answer is somehow “tacit approval.’ That is BS.

When he wears and hangs a Trump hat in his locker, he kind of opened the door to political questions. It’s not like people are asking Legarrette Blount these questions.

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Trump sent him the hat. Trump loves it when he can cite famous people who support him.

Trump had become a friend of Brady’s long before he ran for office. Brady has only said that he supports his friends in whatever they do. Asked if Trump would be a good president, he only said it would sure be interesting, and that there would be a putting green in the back lawn.

Brady has never said anything about Trump’s politics, and has never indicated that he would vote for him.

For a place that purports to act as a refuge from the political scene this piece represents spin that would do any campaign spokesman proud.
It does however smack a little hollow in the face of the previous piece’s character assassination. It’s hard to get the toothpaste back in the tube, Trump can’t seem to do it ten years after the fact any better than PFT is doing it now. That the Clinton’s toothpaste seems to just evaporate remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time.

Lol Chris Kluwe quote, people still listen to that blowhard. Dude couldn’t get directionally kick and lost his job. Blaming his blackballing on his activism, smdh. When coach says drop it in the 20 you drop in the 20. Amazing leg stength, but a total not job.

If you look at the demographics of NFL fans, you will see that an extremely high percentage are white males. White males are voting overwhelmingly for Trump. Like it or not, this post is bad business. Don’t alienate your consumers.

The notion that “reasonable minds” can disagree over whether Brady’s effective “no comment” reflected “tacit approval” of Trump’s remarks is idiotic. Everyone has disavowed those remarks, including Trump’s own family. You actually think Brady thinks they are OK, and was signalling that? Come on. Even those jealous fans who hate the GOAT aren’t that dumb. He just isn’t going to be drawn in on politics. Period. Ask all you want, he isn’t talking.

Excuse me, but I must have missed the part where it became anyone else’s business what was said between Trump and Brady in private. Perhaps you feel that all of Hillary’s private non-government related conversations also belong in the public domain? Somehow I don’t think so. Brady did the right thing by not answering the question.

jeremycrowhurst says:
Oct 12, 2016 6:13 PM
Chris Kluwe, for all his faults, may have said it best. Talking about his eight years in the NFL:

“…we never had anyone say anything as foul and demeaning as you did on that tape, and, hell, I played a couple years with a guy who later turned out to be a serial rapist. Even he never talked like that.”

I think that there is what you call a “mic drop”.
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Anyone that has gone through bootcamp has had to listen to a lot worse than anything Trump was secretly recorded saying.
Maybe if more people did some time in our armed forces they wouldn’t be so “shocked” by this type of language.

“OMG! How could they ask such a question of our darling Tom! This is deplorable!”

The question was fair. Through actions and words, Tom has let it be known that Trump is his manbro, he supports Trump and they are good friends. They golf together, party in the Hamptons…………..Darling Tom opened the door on this one. The media had every right to question him and should have asked more pointed questions about Tom’s Good Buddy Don.

It was Trump brought up Brady’s name to start with during the primaries last year. Brady got asked about it later in that interview and he gave that “Donald is my friend” speech, but he also said he didn’t want to get involved in the politics. So this time instead of politely answering like he did last year he basically did a mic drop and walked off.
I don’t blame him, that’s a bush league questions; he’s screwed no matter what he says.

I went through boot camp and never heard anyone say he could sexually assault women because they were famous. I actually never heard anyone say they could sexually assault women for any reason. I heard plenty of raunchy desires but all were entitlement free.

People: We are talking about a Trump cap that was passed on to Brady by Patriots owner Robert Kraft a few days before the opening game of LAST SEASON. It was in his locker for ONE DAY more than 395 days ago. There is no evidence that he ever wore it. (He wears only his own TB12 brand caps.) And No, the poorly photoshopped images online of Brady wearing the cap do not count as evidence. Though Ted Wells may interpret them as such is someone pays him enough.

I like how this article is about how Florio is not taking sides, but multiple times in it he calls out Trump. I don’t even like Trump, but that is ridiculous. Really the whole issue is ridiculous. If some comments made over a decade ago sway your vote, you should maybe take some time to look at the real issues. There are plenty of reasons to hate both candidates, you don’t need to use an exaggeration from 11 years ago.

Aljack, Trump never went to boot camp either. And while the language was bad, it was more of his attitude that once you become a star, you can take what you want from a woman. His comments are indefensiveable and if he was talking and feeling that way in2005, has he given the American people any reason to believe he has changed? He was talking about what a star can do, image his thoughts on what a President can do.

Is it really a surprise that two guys who have lied and cheated their way through their careers are best buddies?

This reminds me of the press conference where Brady was asked whether he had cheated and he said that he “didn’t believe so.” What innocent person responds like that? And who could actually hear this question about “locker room talk” and simply walk away without denouncing it?

For those who say “oh, he shouldn’t get dragged into politics,” just remember that he dragged himself in by setting the Trump hat in his locker. He can’t have it both ways.

The earlier article with it’s ‘tacit approval’ smear was insulting to everyone’s intelligence, no matter what side of this debacle of an election they are on. This one with it’s “And if Brady had walked away in response to that question, his silence may have said plenty” isn’t much better.

If you want to interpret Brady’s silence how about you interpret what he did not say at the RNC? After being invited to speak there on Trumps behalf he declined. Couldn’t that be implied to mean he has repudiated the Donald? Oh, that’s right…doesn’t fit the narrative.

If the media and Florio want to criticize Trump for his vulgarity or misogyny that’s fair game. But to say Trump is a sexual predator and advocates for sexual violence is just ridiculous.
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I don’t care if it’s ridiculous as long as it keeps that moron out of he white house.

Do you realize that Donald Trump has now given a more detailed plan on how to assault women than how to defeat Isis?
At least he’s right about one thing; when it comes to sexual assault, he knows more than the generals.

patsfan4lifesbchamps says:
Oct 12, 2016 5:36 PM
Brady should not get a pass on this. You are judged by the company you keep. He needs to distance himself from Trump immediately or suffer the consequences.

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Why are you, a Jets fan, obsessed with Brady and the Pats? Should you not be concerned with your own team? Get a life son….

He was talking about what a star can do, image his thoughts on what a President can do.
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Oh man, don’t go there. You mean like Hillary’s husband Bill in the oval office with an intern under the big desk? That is a fact. Almost got impeached over it. You can compare that to a 11 year old recording of a man saying what he could do? Have a real victim(s) testify that this is what happened to them, then that would be a fact; he should be charged.

Tom Brady will only answer football questions in interviews. They can ask more specific or less specific. It won’t make a difference. He also won’t comment on other players not standing for the anthem. It’s just not important to him. In any case, it’s a no win for him either way. He can disavow Trump’s comments and offend people or tell everyone that Trump is a friend and offend others. He’s too smart for this BS and is under no obligation to answer any questions.

I don’t like Brady, and I cannot stand Trump… but the question was out of line. Brady was being interviewed as a football player and a representative of the New England Patriots football team. The question has nothing to do with his job, and if he doesn’t want to answer questions relating to his personal life, he shouldn’t have to.

Its a sad day when individuals are put down because they choose not to become political fodder. Smiling when he hears the baited question because he knows it is, well that must be him ok with Trump’s comments. What do you mean that you won’t help Clinton’s campaign?

Of course he’s probably thinking to himself that he hears much worse trash talk than that every time he goes on the field.

Some people get the idea of media members trying to score political points for their candidate by getting quotes from athletes that delve into politics. Others are just too stupid to realize that the media is trying to use athletes for their own agenda.

As a fan of the NFL I would like to apologize on behalf of the pathetic losers that create fake patriot fan usernames to post nonsense and drivel and pollute the comment sections under patriot related PFT articles.

Chris Kluwe, for all his faults, may have said it best. Talking about his eight years in the NFL:

“…we never had anyone say anything as foul and demeaning as you did on that tape, and, hell, I played a couple years with a guy who later turned out to be a serial rapist. Even he never talked like that.”

I think that there is what you call a “mic drop”.
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I tend to believe that the people who talk big about sexual exploits are insecure and haven’t come close to doing what they claim. As the quote above illustrates, its the people who don’t say anything that you have to watch out for.

Chris Kluwe, for all his faults, may have said it best. Talking about his eight years in the NFL:

“…we never had anyone say anything as foul and demeaning as you did on that tape, and, hell, I played a couple years with a guy who later turned out to be a serial rapist. Even he never talked like that.”

I think that there is what you call a “mic drop”.
________________________________

I tend to believe that the people who talk big about sexual exploits are insecure and haven’t come close to doing what they claim. As the quote above illustrates, its the people who don’t “talk like that” that you may have to watch out for.

It’s interesting to see Hillary’s control influence this website, not surprising considering all the new facts in the recently leaded emails. I’m not excusing Trump, but the facts on Hillary paint a corrupt moron, nothing less. It’s sad to see everyone allowing their bias leak into everything around them, this is sports, the question and his reaction aren’t worth mentioning unless of course your priority it now politics and belonging.

One of my favorite quotes in an email to one of her primaries.

“And as I’ve mentioned, we’ve all been quite content to demean government, drop civics and in general conspire to produce an unaware and compliant citizenry. The unawareness remains strong but compliance is obviously fading rapidly. This problem demands some serious, serious thinking – and not just poll driven, demographically-inspired messaging.”

Who knew pro athletes were such intellectuals in locker rooms. You’d never know it by their behavior outside the locker room. They are also experts on locker room conduct because pro locker rooms are more important than your average gym locker room with everyday people

“Third, it’s typically a no-win proposition to delve into these matters, given the strong opinions people have regarding politics and sports.”
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In my humble opinion this article should have ended width the above paragraph.

How does Brian Williams loose his job and all his credibility for a dumb but ultimately meaningless lie, and Clinton is able to run for the most powerful job in the world after making making malicious lies under oath that affect national security? This is crazy.

I remember when Tom starred in a Saturday Night Live sketch that was somewhat relevant to this discussion. Not about stars getting away with assault, but the fact that attractive men can do things that are considered harassment when done by less desired men. It wasn’t wrong, BTW. I wonder if Tina Fey wrote it – I’m not sure but I’m sure it was done by one/some of the notorious liberals over there, and illustrates that at least that aspect was considered acceptable for left wing people to joke about not long ago.

Yeah I’m sure Tom whom he’s recently said his daughter has him wrapped around her little finger , has probably seen the last of Trump and his golf courses , and I’m sure Gisele will have a lot to say about it >>

What possible benefit is there for Brady to respond to a question which will then dominate the news cycle for a week, drag his teammates into the fray and is guaranteed to anger about 50% of the people who hear him.

You’re correct sir. It is crazy. Many people no longer care about the basic health and fundamentals of our country. They just want to do whatever feel like doing and care too much about feelings. I’m not really a Brady fan but I respect his accomplishments.

Tom Brady is growing tired of being part of this narrative. He has nothing to do with this election and it’s a stupid question to ask and one that would only open up doors for commentary if he answered.

This week: “lockers rooms are nothing like Trump said. There, men share muffin recipes, discuss their feelings on how global warming is affecting their lives, and the never-ending discussion of the respect they have for women.”

Have a real victim(s) testify that this is what happened to them, then that would be a fact; he should be charged.
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Looks like you’re getting your wish – how many women will come forward this week? 5? 50? It’ll be fun to watch.

Trump is his friend. Everyone has a douchy friend. Doesn’t mean he supports Trumps comments. He just isn’t going to say anything about it at all because it has nothing to do with the reason he is on that podium. Also, he probably sees no reason to trash his friend.

You’d have to be some kind of moron to disconnect Brady and his support of his friends from who he is and Trump’s running for the presidency. If you don’t want your entertainment and politics mixed, please refrain from commenting on politics while amusing yourself. Don’t look now, you’re politically amusing yourself.

backintheday99 says:
Oct 12, 2016 5:42 PM
I’ve been in almost every locker room in HS and 4 years of Varsity baseball in college.

Locker rooms are change, throw practice uni in chute, take a shower, get dressed and hightail it to the dining hall.

You don’t look down. You don’t ask for soap. Maybe shampoo. Total eye contact. We all know why. I’ve never heard one single conversation in my life about a girl in a locker room. Bad place to get aroused.

Baseball practice for a pitcher is beyond boring. You do talk about girls, bars, cars, and a whole lot of baseball too. This whole ‘locker room’ banter never existed in my generation. Trump never was in a locker room anyway.

He’s now making every student athlete look like him: We are not or I should say “I was not”.
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I call BS. How about at any one of the 50,000 gyms in America? Country Clubs?

People get so hung up on semantics. Sit at any bar in the country and I am sure you will hear similar or worse on occasion. Like Aaron Rodgers said, “R-E-L-A-X.

Both Brady and Trump are cheaters, AND believe they’re privileged above others, as evidenced by TB’s 4 game suspension for cheating, and Trump’s caught on tape moment treating women as things he is entitled to play with any time and any way he chooses. No morals either of them!